Working with a nutrition coach - Anyone care to share experiences?

mlewon
mlewon Posts: 343 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone!

My name is Marisa, I'm 25, and I'm a full-time grad student and yoga instructor. Grad school has really been kicking my *kitten*, and I've been super inconsistent with eating, so I decided to get an online nutrition coach for three months starting up on Monday. I'm super excited about it, but I'd love to hear other people's experiences, what you felt was the best part of it/any challenges (mentally, etc), any advice! I've never worked with a nutrition coach before, only ever fitness trainers (I've been working in gyms for awhile now), but now I know the help I need is definitely in the kitchen/accountability.

Hopefully some of you have some experiences to share! Thanks :)

Replies

  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    Thanks for your reply! That’s great about your friend, and that it is working for her. I’ve saved up for awhile to be able to afford the coach.

    I intermittent fasted all of last year-it can work, but there’s no scientific proven benefits for it other than just giving yourself a limited amount of time to consume calories. (https://www.muscleforlife.com/does-intermittent-fasting-work/). There’s also no proven negatives, so it’s all in what works for you! :)
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    I'd say put your money towards a registered dietitian, rather than an online nutrition coach, anyone with the internet and a little money can become a nutrition coach with a couple of online classes, whereas a registered dietitian must have degree level training and a pass a registration exam.

    What is it you're hoping to get from the process?

    She has a degree in nutrition actually! And mostly the accountability. I lost 18lbs on my own last year, but with grad school it's been hard for me to prioritize my own health. I just really wanted the check-in system, as I'm finding that because of the stress of grad school and working two jobs, I've been making a million excuses.
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Total waste of money. Anyone can be a 'nutrition coach'. All you have to know is to eat 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day, and reach your protein and fat goals. MFP will help more with that than any nutrition coach, who might recommend something that doesn't work for you anyway (like the one above who thinks that you need to eat everything in a 8 to 10 hour window).

    I've done it before on my own (lost 18lbs last year while beating previous PR's in S/B/D), but I know I need a little more accountability at this point in time due to grad school and working two jobs. You opinion is valid, but sometimes we all need a little extra help :)
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    mlewon wrote: »
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    I'd say put your money towards a registered dietitian, rather than an online nutrition coach, anyone with the internet and a little money can become a nutrition coach with a couple of online classes, whereas a registered dietitian must have degree level training and a pass a registration exam.

    What is it you're hoping to get from the process?

    She has a degree in nutrition actually! And mostly the accountability. I lost 18lbs on my own last year, but with grad school it's been hard for me to prioritize my own health. I just really wanted the check-in system, as I'm finding that because of the stress of grad school and working two jobs, I've been making a million excuses.

    Glad you at least have someone who is qualified. Hope it works for you and is worth the spend and well done on your loss so far.
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    mlewon wrote: »
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    I'd say put your money towards a registered dietitian, rather than an online nutrition coach, anyone with the internet and a little money can become a nutrition coach with a couple of online classes, whereas a registered dietitian must have degree level training and a pass a registration exam.

    What is it you're hoping to get from the process?

    She has a degree in nutrition actually! And mostly the accountability. I lost 18lbs on my own last year, but with grad school it's been hard for me to prioritize my own health. I just really wanted the check-in system, as I'm finding that because of the stress of grad school and working two jobs, I've been making a million excuses.

    Glad you at least have someone who is qualified. Hope it works for you and is worth the spend and well done on your loss so far.

    Thank you! :)
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    I worked with a registered dietician (who also happens to be a professional bodybuilder) and had great success. The specific area I needed help in was tweaking my diet during a period of high intensity training to allow for weight loss while still providing adequate fuel for long duration workouts. I had struggled on my own, so both the knowledge provided by the RD, together with the accountability of checking in with him twice weekly via email, worked very well for me. Good luck.
  • MarvinsAMartian
    MarvinsAMartian Posts: 236 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    This depends on where you are fitness wise. If just starting out and completely ignorant you can either pay for someone else to inform you or you can get informed yourself. Personally I would simply read the stickied forum posts on MFP before investing, simply for the purpose of fact checking.

    For the average person I would say this is a bad investment as specific nutrition is not required. Now that I'm considering seriously competing in adventure racing I am looking at what a nutrition coach has to offer, but first I'm investing in a biking coach.

    Assess your priorities and goals and make an informed decision.

    This ^

    Although I can see OP's appeal of the accountability that comes with a coach. Especially given the financial compensation factor and not wanting to waste it.

    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    mlewon wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    My name is Marisa, I'm 25, and I'm a full-time grad student and yoga instructor. Grad school has really been kicking my *kitten*, and I've been super inconsistent with eating, so I decided to get an online nutrition coach for three months starting up on Monday. I'm super excited about it, but I'd love to hear other people's experiences, what you felt was the best part of it/any challenges (mentally, etc), any advice! I've never worked with a nutrition coach before, only ever fitness trainers (I've been working in gyms for awhile now), but now I know the help I need is definitely in the kitchen/accountability.

    Hopefully some of you have some experiences to share! Thanks :)

    This place is very anti-nutritional coaching, as you are seeing. Hopefully your experience is good and let us know how it goes. The accountability factor can make all the difference for some people. Good luck!

    It's because loads of them are clueless.

    Funny story, my brother is a Type-1 Diabetic (that's not what's funny) and while the average person not affected by or knows anyone affected by Diabetes really shouldn't know the difference, you'd think a pompous, holier than thou, trainer/nutritionist employed by a reputable chain of gyms (that I shall not name) would know THERE IS a difference.

    My brother was lectured by a guy one time after making the mistake of asking the "expert" about strategies to body build as a Type-1. He could smell the cookie cutter *kitten* spewing out this guy's mouth instantly. So he then proceeded to call him out, to which I am saddened I wasn't there to witness... and laugh.

    I don't want to paint them all with the same brush but sheesh, that company needs to distance themselves from that guy quick (if they haven't already).
  • sssgilbe
    sssgilbe Posts: 89 Member
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    mlewon wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    My name is Marisa, I'm 25, and I'm a full-time grad student and yoga instructor. Grad school has really been kicking my *kitten*, and I've been super inconsistent with eating, so I decided to get an online nutrition coach for three months starting up on Monday. I'm super excited about it, but I'd love to hear other people's experiences, what you felt was the best part of it/any challenges (mentally, etc), any advice! I've never worked with a nutrition coach before, only ever fitness trainers (I've been working in gyms for awhile now), but now I know the help I need is definitely in the kitchen/accountability.

    Hopefully some of you have some experiences to share! Thanks :)

    This place is very anti-nutritional coaching, as you are seeing. Hopefully your experience is good and let us know how it goes. The accountability factor can make all the difference for some people. Good luck!

    It's because loads of them are clueless.

    The cluelessness is not understanding different people are motivated in different ways. You and OP may thrive having another person tell you what to eat and evaluate your choices; that's my idea of hell.
  • Wiseandcurious
    Wiseandcurious Posts: 730 Member
    sssgilbe wrote: »
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    mlewon wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    My name is Marisa, I'm 25, and I'm a full-time grad student and yoga instructor. Grad school has really been kicking my *kitten*, and I've been super inconsistent with eating, so I decided to get an online nutrition coach for three months starting up on Monday. I'm super excited about it, but I'd love to hear other people's experiences, what you felt was the best part of it/any challenges (mentally, etc), any advice! I've never worked with a nutrition coach before, only ever fitness trainers (I've been working in gyms for awhile now), but now I know the help I need is definitely in the kitchen/accountability.

    Hopefully some of you have some experiences to share! Thanks :)

    This place is very anti-nutritional coaching, as you are seeing. Hopefully your experience is good and let us know how it goes. The accountability factor can make all the difference for some people. Good luck!

    It's because loads of them are clueless.

    The cluelessness is not understanding different people are motivated in different ways. You and OP may thrive having another person tell you what to eat and evaluate your choices; that's my idea of hell.

    I really did a fouble take at this post and it took me several reads to figure out what made you say that.

    FYI I think the poster meant that most nutrition coaches are clueless (I am taking that to mean clueless about MFP or simply lacking real qualifications).
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    rybo wrote: »

    This place is very anti-nutritional coaching, as you are seeing. Hopefully your experience is good and let us know how it goes. The accountability factor can make all the difference for some people. Good luck!


    Djproulx wrote: »
    I worked with a registered dietician (who also happens to be a professional bodybuilder) and had great success.
    Katiebear_81 wrote: »
    I love my nutrition coach.


    Thanks for the positive responses guys! I really appreciate it.

    For the record, I'm definitely not clueless when it comes to diet/nutrition/fitness. I've been working as a yoga/pilates/bootcamp instructor for a few years (with about a six-month break when I moved/started grad school. I just started teaching again tonight, actually!). I definitely did my research on a coach, and I chose one who understands my goals. I'm not just simply trying to lose weight, it's more about body recomp at this point, and finding what works best with my insane schedule.

    Thanks to all the responses as well, we all clearly have different views, but they're all valid! I understand everyone has had different experiences, and that's definitely why I started this thread.

    <3
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    Fairly sure the cluelessness reference is not about OP but to the many "nutritional coaches" out there who tell their clients things like "You're not losing weight because you're not eating enough", "Buy my product, it's the best way to lose weight" or put people on VLCDs. That's why the forums are so anti-nutrition coach, it's like anything that's not regulated properly, we don't like to see people lose money without having done proper research into who they are giving the money to.

    OP seems to have done a decent job with doing her research, but there are plenty of posts on the forums where people haven't. Nothing wrong with a bit of caution.


  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    sssgilbe wrote: »
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    mlewon wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    My name is Marisa, I'm 25, and I'm a full-time grad student and yoga instructor. Grad school has really been kicking my *kitten*, and I've been super inconsistent with eating, so I decided to get an online nutrition coach for three months starting up on Monday. I'm super excited about it, but I'd love to hear other people's experiences, what you felt was the best part of it/any challenges (mentally, etc), any advice! I've never worked with a nutrition coach before, only ever fitness trainers (I've been working in gyms for awhile now), but now I know the help I need is definitely in the kitchen/accountability.

    Hopefully some of you have some experiences to share! Thanks :)

    This place is very anti-nutritional coaching, as you are seeing. Hopefully your experience is good and let us know how it goes. The accountability factor can make all the difference for some people. Good luck!

    It's because loads of them are clueless.

    The cluelessness is not understanding different people are motivated in different ways. You and OP may thrive having another person tell you what to eat and evaluate your choices; that's my idea of hell.

    You've misunderstood me.

    Most nutritional coaches are clueless.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.

    Why waste your money paying a contractor to build a house when everything you need is at home Depot?

    Well I would agree with that too...but then I'm a hands on kinda gal so will attempt anything :smiley:
  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.

    Because sometimes there are outside factors and I am not a nutritionist and after switching up my diet/fitness things still are not progressing the way I want them to. Despite the “tools” being on MFP and myself being a certified trainer in multiple disciplines, and being an avid reader of nutrition articles, etc, I am not achieving what I want to.

    If MFP works for you alone, that’s phenomenal! It worked for me for a year and a half, and then I came to a standstill. I want the accountability from an outside source when I’m putting in 90-hour weeks between two jobs and a full grad-school classload (which I had explained in a perilous post). :smile:
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.

    Why waste your money paying a contractor to build a house when everything you need is at home Depot?

    Well I would agree with that too...but then I'm a hands on kinda gal so will attempt anything :smiley:

    In my case, I tried the hands on approach and it wasn't working.

    What I needed was help understanding how to incorporate enough fuel during my extended workouts that required significant calories to complete ( such as a 4hr bike/1hour run on Sat, then a 1 hr swim/2hr run on Sunday, burning 1500-2000 calories/day ). The eating plan also needed to provide enough calories to support recovery from the high training volume while also supporting an overall weight loss process, since my appetite was huge during this time period. This was a balancing act and the RD worked with my tri coach to be sure we got it right.

    That expertise was worth every penny spent.

  • Gracie12311
    Gracie12311 Posts: 44 Member
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.

    No to this.

    OP, you sound like you’re on the right track. You realize where your strengths and weaknesses lie and accountability can really help a person. Others, not so much, so it’s good to know what you need to help you with your own personal journey.

    MFP is not really geared towards nutrition and understanding different ways of eating. It’s excellent for calorie counting and weight loss. But if you’re looking to feel better, explore different ways of eating and positive accountability, it’s not what I’d recommend. There are a few groups that are wonderful. The rest is pretty basic calories in, calories out. People on the forum groups don’t understand or want to hear about intermittent fasting, Keto, gluten free, low carb, clean eating or anything other than “eat what you want at a deficit.”

    If someone does have a question about this or an opinion, you’ll find everyone marks it as woo. I think you’ll do really well if you research your nutrition counselor and go with your gut. Sounds like you know what you need for YOU, good luck!



  • mlewon
    mlewon Posts: 343 Member
    Gracie12311 wrote: »

    I think you’ll do really well if you research your nutrition counselor and go with your gut. Sounds like you know what you need for YOU, good luck!

    Thank you Gracie! That’s really kind, and I absolutely appreciate your positivity. I’m really excited for this journey.
  • sssgilbe
    sssgilbe Posts: 89 Member
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    sssgilbe wrote: »
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    mlewon wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    My name is Marisa, I'm 25, and I'm a full-time grad student and yoga instructor. Grad school has really been kicking my *kitten*, and I've been super inconsistent with eating, so I decided to get an online nutrition coach for three months starting up on Monday. I'm super excited about it, but I'd love to hear other people's experiences, what you felt was the best part of it/any challenges (mentally, etc), any advice! I've never worked with a nutrition coach before, only ever fitness trainers (I've been working in gyms for awhile now), but now I know the help I need is definitely in the kitchen/accountability.

    Hopefully some of you have some experiences to share! Thanks :)

    This place is very anti-nutritional coaching, as you are seeing. Hopefully your experience is good and let us know how it goes. The accountability factor can make all the difference for some people. Good luck!

    It's because loads of them are clueless.

    The cluelessness is not understanding different people are motivated in different ways. You and OP may thrive having another person tell you what to eat and evaluate your choices; that's my idea of hell.

    You've misunderstood me.

    Most nutritional coaches are clueless.

    Whew, thanks for the clarification and calm response. I agree and am glad my post didn't start a fire.

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.

    Why waste your money paying a contractor to build a house when everything you need is at home Depot?

    Did you really compare the skills that it takes to build a house compared to the skills it takes to eat?
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    mlewon wrote: »
    RunRutheeRun wrote: »
    Personally why waste money on a coach when all the tools are here for you on MFP.

    Because sometimes there are outside factors and I am not a nutritionist and after switching up my diet/fitness things still are not progressing the way I want them to. Despite the “tools” being on MFP and myself being a certified trainer in multiple disciplines, and being an avid reader of nutrition articles, etc, I am not achieving what I want to.

    If MFP works for you alone, that’s phenomenal! It worked for me for a year and a half, and then I came to a standstill. I want the accountability from an outside source when I’m putting in 90-hour weeks between two jobs and a full grad-school classload (which I had explained in a perilous post). :smile:

    And that makes sense.

    But don't go to anyone who isn't an RD. Even though some RDs are awful -- I've certainly had more than my fair share of awful ones -- they're still better than a generic "nutritionist" who has no license or educational requirements. Look for an RD who has training in sports performance, if that's what you want, or even just a general one, if you don't have any specific concerns. But don't waste the money on a nutritionist.

    If you're going to pay money for help and accountability, make sure you're spending it on the best resource that you can get, and not just the "oh, this looks good" option.
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